Page 19 of Impure Love

"Safer? " Are you sure you're okay?" she echoes, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I pause not knowing how to answer and glance out the window, the unease creeping back. And then I see him—a man standing across the street, his gaze fixed on the hostel. My heart leaps into my throat. It’s him. It has to be. I back away from the window, my body stiffening with fear.

"Aliyah? You still there?" Sophia’s voice crackles through the phone, pulling me back to the present.

"Uh, yeah. I’m here," I manage to say, my voice shaky. " I swallow hard, forcing the words out. “I’ll be okay.”

"Aliyah…" she starts as if unsure what to say. Her voice is filled with worry and it's killing me, but I have to get the fuck outof this place before that man finds me. It's as if I can feel his eyes all around me.

"I’m fine, really. Look, I need to get going," I say, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Aliyah, wait?—"

But I hang up before she can say more. My hands are trembling as I stuff my phone into my pocket. I need to get out of here. Now.

I grab my small bag and start throwing my things into it, my movements frantic and uncoordinated. Every noise from the hallway makes me jump, my heart pounding in my chest as my mind conjures images of him bursting through the door, his eyes boring into me with that terrifying intensity. I can almost hear his footsteps, heavy and deliberate, getting closer and closer.

The thought of those cold, relentless eyes sends a shiver down my spine, making my whole body tense. I can't let him find me. I can't let him win. My survival depends on getting away, staying hidden, and outsmarting him at every turn.

My breath comes in shallow gasps, and I force myself to steady it. I can’t afford to lose it now, not when I’m so close to getting away. The adrenaline pumping through me is both a curse and a blessing, giving me the energy to keep moving but threatening to overwhelm my senses.

Every second counts.

If I falter now, it’s over.

10

DANTE

The silk of the black dress glides through my fingers, a soft whisper of luxury and control. The neckline plunges just enough to promise, while the hem sits at that tantalizing length above the knee. I imagine Aliyah in it, the way the fabric would hug her curves. Then, the pleasure of stripping it off, revealing the lingerie beneath. The thought alone makes me so hard.

I can already picture her reaction. The fear in her eyes, the uncertainty. She’ll try to run, but I’ll be right behind her, a shadow she can't escape. The thrill of the chase makes my blood sing.

I pick up a glass of whiskey, savoring the burn as it slides down my throat. My mind wanders to the next steps. She’s clever, resourceful, but she’s in my world now. Every move she makes, I’ll be there, one step ahead.

Aliyah is my prey. And I am the predator.

I lean back in my chair, fingers steepled under my chin. Aliyah’s getting too comfortable. She thinks she can run and hide, but she needs a reminder. Something that’ll keep her on edge.

I’ll strip away her defenses, just like that dress. Piece by piece, until there’s nothing left but surrender. The thought of her yielding to me, body and soul, fuels my obsession.

I smirk, a dark thrill coursing through me. It’s time to remind the little mouse that I’m always watching, always waiting. She thinks she can slip away unnoticed, but she has no idea how deeply I’m embedded in her world now.

She’ll learn soon enough. There’s no escape from Dante Russo.

The thought of Aliyah’s reaction when she realizes I’ve found her again sends a thrill through me. I can almost see her eyes widening in panic, her breath catching as she understands that there’s no escaping me.

She’ll try to run, of course. It’s in her nature to resist, to fight. But it’ll be futile. I’ll be there, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce. Her every move will be monitored, her every step traced. She’s just a mouse in my maze, and I'm always a step ahead.

“Luca,” I call out, my voice steady and commanding.

He steps into the room, his posture rigid. “Yes, boss?”

“Make sure the men are in position. I want eyes on her at all times. No slip-ups.”

Luca nods, understanding the gravity of my words. “Consider it done.”

I lean back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips. “And Luca, when she tries to leave the hostel, let her. But make sure she knows she’s being followed. I want her to feel the pressure.”

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